Knife implement



p 1966 w. H. CHAMBERS KNIFE IMPLEMENT Filed May 21, 1964 Jazz/m UnitedStates Patent 3,273,191 KNIFE llVlPLEMENT William H. Chambers, 5457 N.Artesian, Chicago, Ill. Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,077 9 Claims.(Cl. -105) This invention relates to an improvement in a knifeimplement, of the type which may be used advantageously in openingwindows or the like.

It is generally found that after painting or varnishing a window sash,the window is sealed shut by the paint or varnish, or is at leatdifficult to open. A window may also become diflicult to open due towarpage of the window and/or the window sash. Knife implements have beendevised for freeing stuck windows, however, none of them, for one reasonor another, have been entirely satisfactory. Accordingly, it i theprincipal object of this invention to provide an improved knifeimplement for freeing windows which are sealed shut, or made difficultto open, by reason of paint or the like entering the crack between thewindow and the window sash, or by reasons of the window and/or thewindow sash being slightly warped.

In freeing windows, it is generally necessary to work in cramped areas,such as in the corners of the windows. Hence, it is a further object ofthe invention to provide an improved knife implement which allowsconvenient and effective usage in cramped areas, such as in the cornersof the window.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved knifeimplement for opening windows or the like which has a self-wedgingaction.

It is a still further object to provide an improved knife implementwhich is effective to bothopen the seal between the window and thewindow sash and to clean the paint out of the crack between the windowframe and the window sash.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved knifeimplement of the above described type which is of simple construction sothat manufacturing costs are minimized, and which is of relatively lightmaterial and of sturdy construction.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

Briefly, the knife implement, or window opening knife 10, of the presentinvention comprises a flat, substantially arrow-head shaped blade 14having a plurality of hook-like teeth 22 of increasing size and angulardisposition formed along the opposite sides thereof and a plurality ofupstanding circular cutting perforations 24 formed therein adjacent theteeth. This construction, as will be more fully described hereinafter,provide a window opening knife which is self-wedging because of thereverse hooklike disposition of the teeth, and which is effective toboth open the seal, and to clean out the paint in the crack, between thewindow frame and the window sash.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manu facturepossessing the features, properties and relation of elements which willbe exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a window opening knife exemplary of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the window opening knife, with a portion ofthe handle cut away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

ice

FIG. 4 is a side plan View of the window opening knife, with a portionof the handle cut away;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view illustrating how the window opening knife isused during a first operation, to open the seal between a window frameand a window sash; and

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view illustrating how the window opening knife isused during a second operation to clean out the paint in the crackbetween the window frame and the window sash by anding operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a window opening knife 10 exemplary of thepresent invention is shown comprising a tubular shaped handle 12 havinga flattened portion 20 on one end thereof to which is attached by meansof rivets 16 or the like, a substantially arrow-head shaped blade 14.

The flattened portion 20 facilitates fastening the blade 14 to thehandle 12, and provides a flat support for the blade 14 so that it maybe held flat against the surface of a window sash. For this latterpurpose, the flattened portion 20 is preferably disposed at an angle ofapproximately 30 to the gripping portion of the handle so that a personcan easily hold the blade 14 flat against the window without strikinghis knuckles. A rubber or vinyl grip 18 can be provided on the handle12.

The blade 14 has a plurality of teeth 22 formed along the two taperingedges thereof and a plurality of perforations 24 which project upwardlyon the top side of the blade 14, adjacent to the teeth 22.

The teeth 22, as may be best seen in FIG. 2, progressively increase insize, as the edge of the blade 14 is traversed reawardly, from its tip.Also, the cutting portion, or base, of the teeth 22 are angularlydisposed with respect to a plane, indicated by the line b, extendingperpendicular to the axis aa of the knife 10. The angular disposition isrepresented by the angle x and it may be noted that the angle x variesfrom an angle of approximately to 0 as the edges of the blade 14 aretraversed rearwardly from the tip of the blade. This constructionresults in a blade which tends to wedge itself in the crack between awindow frame and a .window sash, as the blade is drawn downwardly withthe teeth 22 pressed lightly against the crack, in a manner describedmore fully hereinafter.

The larger teeth 22 which are angularly disposed at a smaller angle xhave a far greater self-iwedging action than the smaller teeth 22 whichare angularly disposed at a larger angle x. The blade 14 can thereforebe started in the crack more easily, by first drawing the smaller teethalong the edge of the crack, in the manner described below.

The blade 14 being pointed allows the window opening knife 10 to beworked into the corners of the window. Also, since the self-wedgingaction of the teeth 22 near the tip of the blade 14 is not as great, forthe reasons set forth above, the blade can 'be easily drawn downwardlyin the crack between the window frame and the window sash. Without thisconstruction, it would be extremely difficult to place the tip of theblade 14 into a corner of a window and to draw the window opening knife10 downwardly, since the teeth would immediately draw or wedge the blade14 in the crack, causing it to stick or bind.

The perforations 24 adjacent to the teeth 22 are stamped in a mannersuch that upstanding circular cutting portions 25, which may be bestseen in FIG. 3, are formed in the upper surface of the blade 14. Theseperforations 24, that is, the upstanding circular cutting portions 25,operate much as sandpaper and function to clean out the paint in thecrack between the window frame and the window sash.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the method in which the window openingknife is used can be seen and easily understood. The window openingknife 10 1s gripped by its handle 12 and positioned with the blade 14flat against the surface of the window sash and with the teeth 22butting against the edge of the window frame. Initially, the windowopening knife 10 is preferably held at an angle, as illustrated in FIG.5, so that the teeth 22 near the tip of the blade 14 are butted againstthe window frame since, as previously stated,

the self wedging action of the teeth 22 is not as great on this portionof the blade 14. The window opening knife 10 is then drawn downwardly,with the bottom of the blade 14 flat against the surface of the windowsash, and the handle 12 simultaneously turned towards the window frameso that the teeth 22 near the base of the blade 14 are engaged in thecrack between the window frame and the window sash. As the windowopening knife 10 is drawn downwardly in this fashion, the selfwedgingaction of the teeth 22 will draw the blade 14 into the crack between thewindow frame and the window sash, to open the seal.

After the seal has been opened, the window opening knife 10 ispositioned in the same manner as described above and drawn downwardlywhile sufficient force is applied to wedge the blade 14 into the crackbetween the tinu-ously until the seal is opened and the paint removed sothat the window may be easily opened.

It is, of course, evident that both of the above described operati-onscan be performed simultaneously, by applying suflicient force during thedownward stroke to both open the seal and to wedge the perforations 24into the crack between the window frame and the window sash.

The blade 14 is removed from the crack by merely reversing the directionof the stroke, that is, the blade 14 is drawn upwardly tip first, and'by simultaneously urging the blade out of the crack. This is easilyaccomplished since the teeth 22 do not tend to wedge the blade 1'4 intothe crack when moved in this fashion. The blade 14 can likewise beremoved by rotating the handle '12 away from the window frame at the endof the downward stroke so that only the smaller teeth 22 near the tip ofthe blade are wedged in the crack. The blade 12 can then be easilyremoved since the wedging action of these smaller teeth, as previouslyexplained, is not great.

The perforations 24 are formed in the blade 14 by stamping or the like,and preferably have a diameter which is slightly larger than three timesthe thickness f the blade, the blade being approximately .010" thick, sothat the upstanding circular portions 25 will project above the surfaceof the blade 14 a distance slightly larger than the clearance normallyrequired between a window frame and a window sash in order that thewindow may be easily opened. The perforations 24, or the upstandingcircular portions 25, therefore project above the surface of the blade14 just a sufficient distance to sandingly engage the under surface ofthe window frame, but notto engage the under surface so as to damage thefacing of the window frame as the blade is wedged into, or removed from,the crack.

The perforations 24 are also aligned in rows adjacent to the teeth 22 ata distance from the edge of the blade slightly less than the overlap ofthe window frame over the window sash, so that the perforations can bewedged completely into the crack between the window frame and the windowsash. The perforations are preferably spaced apart a distanceapproximately equal to three times the diameter of the perforations, andthe rows are preferably spaced apart a distance approximately equal tothe diameter of the perforations and are staggered, or offset, withrespect to one another so that the perforations in one row are centeredbetween the perforations in the succeeding row. Aligned and spaced inthis fashion, the upstanding circular portions 25 of the perforations 24provide spaces, or pockets, for collecting the paint removed from thewindow and the window sash, so that it may be removed from the crack. Ifthe paint is allowed to remain in the crack, it would eventually causethe window sash to again bind.

It may also be noted that the window opening knife 10 can be used tofree the window if it is binding due to the fact that it is slightlywarped or swollen from dampness. The blade 14 of the window openingknife 10 is wedged into the crack between the window frame and thewindow sash in the manner described above, and the perforations 24 onthe blade 14 can be used to sand the window frame to remove slightirregularities due to warpage or swelling.

While the invention has been shown and described as it is used to freewindows, it is evident that it may also be used to free similarstructures, such as sliding tops or the like on articles of furniture.The invention is therefore not to be limited to the describedapplication.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efliciently obtained and,since certain changes may be made in the above article without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing,shall be interpreted as illustrative and not a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. A blade for a knife implement having a pointed tip and at least twoedges which taper outwardly in opposite directions from said tip; aplurality of teeth on each of said edges, said teeth progressivelyincreasing in size as the edges of said blade are rearwardly traversedfrom said tip and angularly disposed with respect to a planeperpedicular to the axis of said blade, with the angle beingprogressively decreased as the edge of said blade is rearwardlytraversed from said tip; and a plurality of perforations providinguprising tips on one side of said blade formed in said blade along saidedges adjacent to said teeth.

2. A blade for a knife used for opening the seal resulting from paint orthe like in the crack between a window frame and a window sash and forremoving said paint, said blade being flat and having at least two edgeswhich taper to a point; a plurality of teeth on each of said edges, saidteeth progressively increasing in size as the edges of said blade arerearwardly traversed from said point; said teeth also being angularlydisposed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of saidknife, with the angle being progressively decreased as the edge of saidblade is rearwardly traversed from said point; and a plurality ofperforations providing uprising tips on one side of said blade formed insaid blade along said edges adjacent to saidteeth.

3. A window opening knife for opening the seal resulting from paint orthe like in the crack between a window frame and a window sash and forremoving said paint comprising: a Hat blade; a support connected to saidblade for holding said blade flat against the surface of said window;said blade being pointed and having at least two edges which taperoutwardly in opposite directions, a plurality of teeth on each of saidedges, said teeth progressively increasing in size as the edges of saidblade are rearwardly traversed from the point of said blade, said teethalso being angularly disposed with respect to a plane perpendicular tothe axis of said support with the angle being progressively decreased asthe edge of said blade is rearwardly traversed from the point of saidblade; and a plurality of perforations providing uprising tips on oneside of said blade formed in said blade along said edges adjacent tosaid teeth.

4. A window opening knife for opening the seal resulting from paint orthe like in the crack between a window and a window sash and forremoving said paint-comprising: a flat blade; a tubular shaped handlefor supporting said blade, said handle having a flattened portion on oneend thereof to which said blade is connected, said flattened portion ofsaid handle being angularly disposed with respect to the remainingportion of said handle to allow said blade to be held flush against thesurface of said window sash; said blade being pointed and having atleast two edges tapered outwardly in opposite directions, a plurality ofteeth formed in each of said edges, and a plurality of perforationsadjacent said teeth providing upstanding tips on one side of said blade.

5. A window opening knife for opening the seal resulting from paint orthe like in the crack between a window frame and a window sash and forremoving said paint comprising a flat blade; a tubular shaped handle forsupporting said blade, said handle having a flattened portion on one endthereof to which said blade is connected, said flattened portion of saidhandle being angularly disposed with respect to the remaining portion ofsaid handle to allow said blade to be held flush against the surface ofsaid window sash; said blade being pointed and having at least two edgestapered outwardly in opposite directions, a plurality of teeth formed ineach of said edges, said teeth progressively increasing in size as theedges of said blade are rearwardly transversed from said point; saidteeth also being angularly disposed with respect to a planeperpendicular to the axis of said blade, with the angle beingprogressively decreased as the edge of said blade is rearwardlytraversed from said tip; and a plurality of perforations providinguprising tips on one side of said blade formed in said blade along saidedges adjacent to said teeth.

6. A knife implement comprising: a fiat blade; a support connected tosaid blade for holding said blade flat against a surface; said bladebeing pointed and having at least two edges tapered outwardly inopposite directions a plurality of teeth formed in each of said edges,said teeth progressively increasing in size as the edges of said bladeare rearwardly transversed from said point; said teeth also beingangularly disposed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis ofsaid knife, with the angle being progressively decreased as the edge ofsaid blade is rearwardly traversed from said point; and a plurality ofperforations providing uprising tips on one side of said blade formed insaid blade along said edges ad jacent to said teeth.

7. A knife implement, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angulardisposition of said teeth varies from approximately to 0 as the edges ofsaid blade are rearwardly transversed from said point of said blade.

8. A blade, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality ofperforations each have a diameter substantially equal to three times thethickness of the blade, and wherein said uprising tips project upward onone side of said blade a distance slightly greater than the clearancenormally required between a Window frame and a window sash, to allow thewindow to be easily opened.

9. A blade, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality ofperforations are aligned in rows adjacent said teeth and are spacedapart a distance substantially equal to three times the diameter of saidperforations, and wherein said rows are spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the diameter of said perforations and are ofl-setwith respect to one another so that said perforations in one row arecentered between said perforations in a succeeding row.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,908 11/ 1889Hirschel. 1,379,973 5/1921 Gillespie 30-355 1,710,039 4/1929 Bauer30-355 1,787,057 12/1930 Ward 30-317 2,343,616 3/1944 Kay 303l52,568,012 9/1951 Le Boeuf 15236 FOREIGN PATENTS 853,805 11/1960 GreatBritain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BLADE FOR A KNIFE IMPLEMENT HAVING A POINTED TIP AND AT LEAST TWOEDGES WHICH TAPER OUTWARDLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID TIP; APLURALITY OF TEETH ON EACH OF SAID EDGES, SAID TEETH PROGRESSIVELYINCREASING IN SIZE AS THE EDGES OF SAID BLADE ARE REARWARDLY TRAVERSEDFROM SAID TOP AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO A PLANEPERPEDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID BLADE, WITH THE ANGLE BEINGPROGRESSIVELY DECREASED AS THE EDGE OF SAID BLADE IS REARWARDLYTRAVERSED FROM SAID TIP; AND A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS PROVIDINGUPRISING TIPS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BLADE FORMED IN SAID BLADE ALONG SAIDEDGES ADJACENT TO SAID TEETH.